ALBANY – Chenango County’s top leader is reaffirming the importance of agriculture to the local community by his participation in a statewide coalition of county legislators focused on bringing the challenges faced by New York’s farmers to the forefront.

“For Chenango County, the farming industry is priority number one,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Decker. The Town of North Norwich Supervisor is one of 25 county representatives on the New York State Association of Counties’ newly-formed Blue Ribbon Taskforce on the Future of Farming in New York State.

“It’s the first time ever that the association of counties has decided to get involved with agriculture,” said Decker, who described the organization as a “big voice” for Chenango in the state capital.

Given the challenges farmers face, the Chenango County leader said it was time for the organization to get involved with the issue.

“County governments should be a strong advocate for the farming community and are uniquely situated to act as a liaison between our federal and state representatives, keeping them apprised of the needs of farmers,” he explained.

The taskforce held its first meeting in Albany on March 15. According to Wyoming County Board of Supervisors Chairman Doug Berwanger, who chairs the committee, discussions centered around four “silos of issues” which the group will focus on going forward. Those items are the future of farming in New York; the environment as related to agriculture; the economy of New York farms and milk pricing; and access to healthy, New York grown foods.